Hello... sorry for the delay in replying...
I had 9 responses to my e-mail. Of which 6 are used here (the other 3 were
either requests for results to be summarised for the list, or suggestions of
alternative lists to post the message to.)*
Of those 6:
* 4 use filters
* 2 do not (The two respondents who do not use filters are both
against using them.)
Of those that do use filters:
* 2 are in favour of using filters, and 2 are not.
* All of those who currently use filters are using commercial
products.
* 3 out of the four library services who use filters were not
consulted about the implementation of filtering software in the library.
* 3 respondents admitted experiencing students being blocked from
legitimate sites, one considered this to not be a problem.
* 2 of the filtering libraries did not know about the LA's policy on
the use of Internet filtering software in libraries
(http://www.la-hq.org.uk/directory/prof_issues/filter2.html). Of the 2 that
did, one of them decided that their "secondary liability under the law...
justified the introduction of a filter"
Personally I feel that the use of filtering software in libraries (public,
commercial, academic) goes against our code of conduct
(http://www.la-hq.org.uk/directory/about/conduct.html) "members have an
obligation to facilitate the flow of information and ideas and to protect
and promote the rights of every individual to have free and equal access to
sources of information without discrimination and within the limits of the
law."
More importantly, filtering software is never truly "fit for purpose" and
will always stop access to legitimate sites whilst allowing pornography and
hate speech through. Figures of "66% of [offensive] material blocked" are
hardly a ringing endorsement.
I would be interested to hear what any other librarians think.
Thanks
Ellie
Ellie Clement
Subject Librarian (Science, Engineering & Construction)
Bradford College
Gt. Horton Road
BRADFORD
BD7 1AY
(01274) 753114 or 753156
mailto: [log in to unmask]
*I have concentrated on the responses to my original enquiry and not to
those responses to Simon Beard's enquiry of 27/2/01 - but thanks Simon for
sending me copies of your responses too!
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